Police said Adams was hit repeatedly with the bat before his wallet was stolen.

The three are also accused of breaking the window of Adams' vehicle and stealing cash from inside.

Adams was found by his cousin around noon the next day and was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

"He wasn't looking too good, and I called out his name, and he couldn't talk," cousin Bobby Bradley told WSOC.

Lowery, Benton, and Hicks were charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree burglary, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, and larceny.

Officials said the beating was so severe that Adams was still in the hospital on Monday.